Hosea 4:6-11

Listen to Hosea 4:6-11

6 ¹My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have ²rejected knowledge, I also will ³reject you from being My priest. Since you have ⁴forgotten the ⁵law of your God, I also will forget your children.

7 The more they ⁶multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; I will ⁷change their glory into shame.

8 They ⁸feed on the sin of My people And ⁹direct their desire toward their iniquity.

9 And it will be, like people, ¹⁰like priest; So I will ¹¹punish them for their ways And repay them for their deeds.

10 ¹²They will eat, but not have enough; They will ¹³play the harlot, but not increase, Because they have ¹⁴stopped giving heed to the LORD.

11 Harlotry, ¹⁵wine and new wine take away the understanding.

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Hosea 4:6-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 4

This chapter contains a new sermon or prophecy, delivered in proper and express words, without types and figures, as before; in which the people of Israel are summoned to appear at the tribunal of God, to hear the charge brought against them, and the sentence to be pronounced upon them, and which would be executed. They are charged with sins of omission and commission; with want of truth and mercy to men, and with ignorance of God; with swearing, lying, murder, theft, and adultery, Ho 4:1,2, the punishment threatened is the sword, famine, and pestilence; which should affect the whole land, and all creatures in it, men, beasts, fowls, and fishes, Ho 4:3, then the priests and false prophets are threatened with falling into calamities along with the people, and with rejection from their office, and forgetfulness of their posterity, and a taking away their glory from them, because of their striving with the true prophets; their rejection of knowledge; forgetfulness of the law of God; covetousness, adultery, and drunkenness, Ho 4:4-11, then the discourse is turned to the people again, who are charged with divination and idolatry, which is spiritual adultery; and therefore, by way of retaliation, their wives and daughters would be left to commit adultery and fornication, Ho 4:12-14, and the chapter is concluded with advice to Israel not to tempt Judah to sin; or to Judah not to do the like, after the example of Israel, who were backsliders, idolaters, left of God and alone; guilty of bribery, and the like shameful things, and would be suddenly filled with shame, Ho 4:15-19.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

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